Coming Clean Coming Clean

I, of course, had applied my most recent coat of deck sealant with a roller.

I also applied multiple coats. That too, it turned out, was a bad idea.

"More is not better," Muth said.

"You don't double-coat," Yeiser added.

They pointed out that if the first coat of sealant has done its job, it won't allow the second coat into the wood. Instead, the second coat beads up or runs down the side of the deck, creating unsightly drips that attract dirt.

A fresh coating of deck sealant should last anywhere from two to four years, Muth said. The determining factors are the type of wood, the age of the wood and how much harsh sunlight the deck is exposed to.

Decks are places where you kick back, where you stretch out on a lounge chair and admire the grain of the wood.

After my session with the deck pros, I vowed that the next time I relax on my deck I will have a stiff beverage in my hand. I will spill a little of beverage on the deck, a move the pros call "the splash test." If the spill beads, it means the wood does not need a sealant. But if the liquid soaks in, the wood needs help. In that case, I will take a long drink of the stiff beverage and try to figure out whether I want to pick up a paint roller or the telephone.

rob.kasper@baltsun.com

How to clean and seal a wood deck

Tools you'll need

* Deck wash, $6 for a 1-quart container that attaches to garden hose.

* Sealant, ranging from $14-$30 a gallon depending on tint and amount of UV protection.

* Gloves and goggles

* Power washers rent for $75 to $90 a day. Two-gallon pump patio sprayers range from $20 -$30. Alternately, use a paint roller attached to a pole or a paint pad, about $8, that fits on the end of long handle, much like a mophead.

[Sources: If I Had A Hammer by Andrea Ridout and the Pride Services Group of Catonsville]

Note to readers: Although I will continue writing about food and beverages in The Baltimore Sun, this will be the last of my do-it-yourself column. Starting in 1990, this space, originally called Saturday's Hero, has addressed a variety of issues on the home front -everything from fixing a faucet to coaching kid's basketball teams. I have enjoyed writing these tales of domestic life and hearing from folks in similar situations.